Trading Sticks
From New Teacher Handbook
Trading Sticks is a classroom activity that helps to build respect and an environment that allows open and honest discussion. Once students are familiar with the process, the activity can be done in 15-20 minutes on Fridays. It is a great morning meeting activity to conclude the week.
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Materials
- Three popsicle sticks per student
- optional- M&M's or some other small incentive treat
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Procedure
- Distribute three sticks per student.
- Have each student think about their week and the things that have happened in the classroom.
- As they are ready, have each student approach a classmate or teacher and give them a compliment for something kind that they have noticed them doing during the week, towards themselves or towards a peer. #EVERYONE MUST GIVE A STICK AWAY WITH A COMPLIMENT#
- Then, the students who are interested, can have the opportunity to approach a peer or teacher and let them know something that has happened during the week that they did not like. The offending student then gives the a stick to the requesting student. #IT IS NOT REQUIRED THAT EVERY STUDENT TAKE A STICK AWAY#
- The teacher goes last, concluding the activity. The teacher is not limited to giving or taking only one stick.
- As an optional reward, the sticks can then be traded back to the teacher for an M&M, sticker or other small treat.
